06 Aug 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

August 6th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
2. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)
3. Tsunami Ready
4. India Water Resources Information System (India-WRIS)
5. National Handloom Day
6. Khelo India Mobile App

1. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Context:

Ministry of Agriculture funding start-ups under the innovation and ‘agripreneurship’ component of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in 2020-21.

Details:

• In order to contribute directly and indirectly to enhance the income of farmers by providing opportunities to them and to provide employment to the youth, start-ups are being encouraged in the agriculture sector.
• In order to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem, the Innovation and Agri-entrepreneurship Development programme has been launched as a component under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
• The programme has roped in five agricultural institutes as knowledge partners. Also, 24 Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have also been appointed.
• Components under the Innovation and Agri-entrepreneurship Development programme:
  • Agripreneurship Orientation – 2 months duration with a monthly stipend of Rs. 10,000/- per month.  Mentorship is provided on financial, technical, IP issues, etc.
  • Seed Stage Funding of R-ABI Incubatees – Funding up to Rs. 25 lakhs (85% grant & 15% contribution from the incubatee).
  • Idea/Pre-Seed Stage Funding of Agripreneurs – Funding up to Rs. 5 lakhs (90% grant and 10% contribution from the incubatee).
• In all, more than 300 start-ups in the agriculture and allied sector are being funded under the programme.

2. Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI)

Context:

IBBI amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy  Board of India (Liquidation Process) Regulations, 2016.

Read more on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in the linked article.

About the IBBI:

• The IBBI was formed in 2016 under the IBC.
• It is the regulator responsible for overseeing the insolvency proceedings.
• It is responsible for the implementation of the IBC that consolidates and amends the laws relating to reorganization and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals.
• It has regulatory oversight over:
  • Insolvency Professionals
  • Insolvency Professional Agencies
  • Insolvency Professional Entities
  • Information Utilities
• It frames and enforces rules for:
  • Corporate insolvency resolution
  • Corporate liquidation
  • Individual insolvency resolution
  • Individual bankruptcy

3. Tsunami Ready

Context:

UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition to Odisha Communities.

About Tsunami Ready:

• Tsunami Ready is a community performance-based programme initiated by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO to promote tsunami preparedness through the active collaboration of public, community leaders, and national and local emergency management agencies.
• The initiative is modelled after the US National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service’s successful TsunamiReady program.
• Objectives of the programme:
  • To improve the coastal community’s preparedness for tsunami emergencies.
  • To minimize the loss of life and property.
  • To ensure a structural and systematic approach in building community preparedness through fulfilling the best-practice indicators set by the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/IOTWMS) of UNESCO-IOC.
• Fulfilment of the guidelines ensures communities have a strong end-to-end tsunami early warning and mitigation system with a particular focus on community awareness and preparedness to respond.

About the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC):

• IOC-UNESCO was established in 1960 as a body with functional autonomy within UNESCO and is the only competent organization for marine science within the UN system.
• The purpose of the Commission is to promote international cooperation and to coordinate programmes in research, services and capacity-building, in order to learn more about the nature and resources of the ocean and coastal areas and to apply that knowledge for the improvement of management, sustainable development, the protection of the marine environment, and the decision-making processes of its Member States.
• The IOC is recognized through the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the competent international organization in the fields of Marine Scientific Research and Transfer of Marine Technology.

About Tsunami Warning in India:

• The Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC), INCOIS is the nodal agency to provide tsunami advisories to India.
  • INCOIS is the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• INCOIS is also providing tsunami advisories to the Indian Ocean Region (25 countries) as a Tsunami Service Provider under the responsibility assigned by IOC-UNESCO.
• To create awareness and preparedness about tsunamis, INCOIS regularly organizes Tsunami Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) workshops, training sessions and seminars for state and district level Disaster Management Officials (DMOs) of the coastal states.
• ITEWC also conducts tsunami mock exercises (called IOWave) twice a year in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the national and state-level disaster management agencies.
• To implement and monitor the implementation of Tsunami Ready and IOWave Exercises in India, the Ministry of Earth Sciences established a National Board under the chairmanship of Director, Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Centre (INCOIS).
  • The members of the board are drawn from:
    • Earth Sciences Ministry
    • National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
    • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
    • Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA)
    • Andaman & Nicobar Islands Directorate of Disaster Management (DDM)
    • INCOIS
• Based on the National Board recommendations, UNESCO-IOC has approved the recognition of two communities viz., Venkatraipur and Noliasahi as Tsunami Ready Communities. The two communities are villages in Odisha.
• With this recognition, India is the first country to implement Tsunami Ready in the Indian Ocean Region and Odisha is the first state.

4. India Water Resources Information System (India-WRIS)

Context:

Ministry of Jal Shakti launches new version of India Water Resources Information System.

Details:

• The portal contains information related to Water Resources through dashboards for rainfall, water levels & discharge of rivers, water bodies, groundwater levels, reservoir storages, evapotranspiration and soil moisture.
• It also has modules on water resources projects, water bodies, hydro-met data availability and tools for GIS layer editing.
• The portal is open to the public and accessible through indiawris.gov.in.
• The first version of the India-WRIS was launched in July 2019.
• This is the second version with added functionalities.
• The key features of the system are water information easily made available to users and the general public, for decision-makers, water managers, farmers & experts, direct access to hydro-met information from Central and State agencies, real-time data available with one click, variety of modules for different needs, latest technologies, continuous development and improvement.

5. National Handloom Day

Context:

The sixth National Handloom Day observed on 7^th August 2020.

About the National Handloom Day:

• In 2015, 7^th August was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on the same date in the year 1905.
• The objective is to generate awareness about the handloom industry and its contribution to the socio-economic development of the country amongst the public.
• On this day, the handloom weaving community is honoured and the contribution of this sector in the socio-economic development of this country is highlighted.
• The handloom sector is a symbol of India’s glorious cultural heritage.
• It is also an important source of livelihood in India.
• In addition, the sector is vital for women empowerment as more than 70% of the handloom weavers and allied workers are women.
• This year, the Textile Ministry is also going to launch a handloom portal along with a social media campaign.

6. Khelo India Mobile App

Context:

Sports Authority of India (SAI) launches the Khelo India Mobile App.

Details:

• It is an online programme for the training of Physical Education (PE) Teachers from CISCE Schools on “Khelo India Fitness Assessment of School Going Children”.
• This large-scale training is being organized to assess the fitness levels of the school children and to identify potential future champions from a vast pool of grassroots talent.

Read more on the Khelo India Programme at the linked article.

Read previous PIB here.

August 6th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here